Fishery Fine. How would I dispute?

trarob on 07/07/2015 - 23:37
Last edited 08/07/2015 - 10:40 by 1 other user

I was issues an infringement notice for not complying with signage at a wharf. Is it worth disputing the $250 fine?
I already lodged in a claim and it was rejected. I proved images and my claim stating:

Based on the unsuitable signage at Huntley's Point. After I spoke to the policewoman, I could not find the sign. Finally after a good 5 minutes, I located the sign. It was my first time at Huntley's Point Wharf and there was no clear or visible sign in 10 m of the area. The sign was in a location that was not well lit up for fishers to take notice and high above eye level. There were some areas of the wharf lit up but they seemed to be focused on unsafe areas.

I even send in pictures below to them to show the sign is not visible.
http://i.imgur.com/eFqcnqN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gYyulkl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/L04boqf.jpg
So the officers notes over my images? Is that even a fair judgement?
A reply was sent:
Outcome of our review:

We considered the circumstances you presented. We also consulted the Caution/Review
Guidelines, legislation and information provided by the issuing authority. Our investigations
conclude the penalty still applies.

We acknowledge your comments indicating it was your first time in this area and the sign was not
clearly displayed. The issuing officer notes the signs were prominently displayed. We are unable
to cancel the penalty based on these circumstances.

Poll Options

• 11
  Appeal
• 3
  Don't Appeal

• 

  [Deactivated] on 08/07/2015 - 07:18

  +2

  What part of the signage didn't you comply with exactly?
  Was it the orange one about the festival?

• 

  DrStinge on 08/07/2015 - 08:27

  I would appeal - the fact that they acknowledged the sign was not clearly displayed is good enough.

  • 

    mskeggs on 08/07/2015 - 09:35

    +1

    They acknowledged the OP says it wasn't clearly displayed, they didn't necessarily agree with it.
    I could take a photo that makes a very clear sign look unclear, and the OP is obviously motivated to make the sign look obscure.
    I presume the OP is discussing the 3rd photo signage, and is arguing that because other parts of the wharf were lit at night, the sign should have been lit too.
    I don't think that argument is sustainable, as there are millions of unlit signs around (e.g. parking, speed limit etc).

    If this isn't the case, the OP needs to make clear what the basis is for their appeal.

    • 

      DrStinge on 08/07/2015 - 10:17

      True true, good point.

• 

  t_c on 08/07/2015 - 08:46

  -1

  So typical give someone a badge and their head goes so far up there ass they can't understand the word discretion.

  • 

    mskeggs on 08/07/2015 - 09:37

    Not sure why you think this. Based on the info given, we don't know what the OP was doing or how they interacted with the police.

    • 

      trarob on 08/07/2015 - 17:45

      Talking to the male officer like we were friends and he told us we could not fish here and we can just move. So the male constable gave us a warning and to just move to the other side, but the female police officer who seemed to be of higher ranked informed that they must take a picture of our license. Issuing us a infringement notice even after informing her that it was our first time being there. Also a family was there who were fishing and they just moved to other side but female officer did not issue them a fine. Clearly remember her stating that she is not going to discriminate against anyone. We were so nice to the officers which made me heavily regret being so nice after her telling us there we would cop a fine…